538 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 



breeding at Turtle Mountain, on the 49th parallel, having observed 

 none at Pembina. (Coties.) First seen at Indian Head, Assa., 

 May 24th, 1892, they soon become tolerably common and remain- 

 ed, breeding in hollow trees; first arrivals at Medicine Hat, Assa., 

 May i6th, 1894, breeding in the river valley in old trees; observed 

 two at the crossing of the McLeod River, north of Edmonton,June 

 19,1898; tolerably common in the streets at Victoria, Vancouver 

 Island ; first seen May 8th, 1893 and on May 28th, 1887; observed 

 several in the dead woods north of Peace River, near White Mud 

 River, Lat. 56° 20' in June, 1903. {iipreadborough^ Not uncommon 

 but local near Prince Albert, Sask.; noted breeding every year in 

 great numbers in the dead trees of a willow and poplar thicket 

 among marshes. {Cottbeaux.) Only one specimen, a male taken 

 at Victoria, being secured, it is difificult to state if it belongs to the 

 eastern or western form. {Rhoads.) Common in'the vicinity of 

 Vancouver,B.C., and breeding in numbers in 1894. {E. F. G. White?) 



Breeding Notes.— I observed this species June 29th, 1886, 

 nesting in the city, in a bird house placed on top of a pole erected 

 on a shed in rear of St. Joseph Drug Hall, No. 2241, Notre Dame 

 street, where they are said to breed twice a year, in the months of 

 April and June; I have not noticed the purple martin breeding in 

 any other place within the city, but I dare say they do breed in 

 other yards where they are encouraged to nest. (Winile.) At 

 Ottawa this species builds in holes in trees or in boxes in the 

 city. The nest is composed of hay, straw, bits of twine and paper; 

 lined with feathers; eggs, 4 or 5, pure, glossy white. {G. R. White.) 

 Breeds* all over central and western Ontario, making its nests in 

 holes underthe eaves of buildings; in northern Assiniboia it makes 

 its nest in holes in trees like the tree swallow; nest taken at York- 

 ton, Assa., June 1st, 1901; on this day I found a purple martin 

 sitting on five eggs in a hole in an old stub five feet from the 

 ground; the bird allowed me to lift her off the eggs and I threw 

 her into the' air and she flew away ; the following day I again 

 found her sitting upon the eggs; later I found other nests around 

 Crescent Lake. {W. Raine.) 



museum specimens. 



Five; one purchased with the Holman collection in 1885 ; one 

 taken at Ottawa in May, 1888, by Prof. Macoun; one taken at 

 Indian Head, Assa., May 30th, 1892, and two at Medicine Hat, 

 Assa., in May, 1894, by Mr. Spreadborough. 



